Pictures: 10 Years After The Station Nightclub Fire

CaptionFire Starts In Nightclub

Dan Davidson

The fire was caused by pyrotechnics set off by Daniel Biechele, the tour manager of the headlining band, Great White, according to The Providence Journal. The pyrotechnics ignited flammable sound insulation foam in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage. The flames were at first thought to be part of the act; only as the fire reached the ceiling and smoke began to billow did people realize it was uncontrolled.

The fire was caused by pyrotechnics set off by Daniel Biechele, the tour manager of the headlining band, Great White, according to The Providence Journal. The pyrotechnics ignited flammable sound insulation foam in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage. The flames were at first thought to be part of the act; only as the fire reached the ceiling and smoke began to billow did people realize it was uncontrolled. (Dan Davidson)

In this image from video shot by TV station WPRI, people try to escape a fire at The Station nightclub using the front exit of the building. Fire broke out during a performance and pyrotechnic display by the band Great White. In an interview with CNN, the band's lead singer Jack Russell said that the flames from the pyrotechnic display spread to foam decorations around the stage.

In this image from video shot by TV station WPRI, people try to escape a fire at The Station nightclub using the front exit of the building. Fire broke out during a performance and pyrotechnic display by the band Great White. In an interview with CNN, the band's lead singer Jack Russell said that the flames from the pyrotechnic display spread to foam decorations around the stage. (WPRI/CNN/Getty Images)

By Matthew R. Lenczewski, Special to The Courant On the night of February 20, 2003, The Station nightclub in West Warwick, R.I., became engulfed in flames after highly flammable insulation was ignited during a rock band's pyrotechnics show. Many in the over-capacity crowd of 458 people were trapped. Along with the 100 people killed, more than 200 were injured in the fire. As we approach the 10th anniversary of one of the deadliest nightclub fires in U.S. history, we take a moment to look back at the timeline of this tragic event.Matthew R. Lenczewski